She Cradled the Smoking Gun: Ch 8

Stone questions Paul Kaye’s business partner and the motive for his murder remains foggy

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Joel Burman was as small and round as Stone had seen on Lisa’s smartphone. He asked if Stone would meet him at the Silver Lake reservoir near his home. Afternoons were when he always took his walk.

Stone agreed and strolled along with Burman, listening to his hurried speech and bewilderment over what happened.

“I’m still in shock, Detective. Never would I have imagined it. Never, ever.”

Bikers, joggers, and parents pushing baby strollers passed them by. Stone, a father of two daughters who were growing older by the minute, wondered how anyone could afford to raise a child in today’s LA.

“Very disturbing,” said Burman, sipping from his water bottle.

Downtown Los Angeles was in the distance. The Silver Lake Reservoir was an urban park. In many places of the country, there would have been plenty of shade trees. But not here.

“I know it is.”

Burman grew more agitated as they talked. “It can happen to anyone. None of us are invincible are we, Detective?”

“No, we’re not.” Stone pressed his line of questioning. “What did you notice about Paul Kaye in the last few weeks or couple of months?”

“What do you mean?”

“Was he troubled? Worried? Did you have any arguments with him?”

Burman shuffled along faster. “No, Detective. Just our usual. The concept we talked about. I’d have one idea and maybe he’d bring in another. But nothing for us to kill over.”

“Like what kinds of ideas?”

“The reality show I wanted to do. There’s a lot that goes into these things. I had distribution lined up. He wondered about different streaming services. We had thoughts about the cast. I said no to his girlfriend being on camera. Paul didn’t argue about it and Morgan honestly didn’t seem to care.”

“But Paul was going to invest in the production, right?”

“Yeah.” Burman sounded unsure.

“Is that a firm yes?”

“Yeah. But nothing signed in blood. Uh, if you know what I mean.” Burman stopped. “He saw profit in it.”

“Meaning that he’d be investing his money, right?”

“Yeah. But — ”

“But what?”

“He wanted a change.”

“What kind of change?”

“I know this sounds odd since he kept Morgan by his side. But he wondered about getting out of advertising and entertainment altogether.”

“Really?”

“He told me. Said he imagined repairing the relationship with his wife and settling down with her somewhere.” Burman huffed, more of a scoff than a laugh. “A married man talking about settling down with his wife? Odd, isn’t it?”

“Maybe. But maybe not. Do you think he loved her?”

“I think he did. He never talked about regrets, but at the same time he seemed under a lot of stress. Not from business. I think it was personal.”

“Oh?”

“Look. Paul had his eye candy and, as I like to say, his arm candy sidekick.” Burman’s gaze showed he was thinking.

“Here’s a thought, Joel. If Paul invested would that have covered, say, your salary?”

Burman gave Stone a fiery glance. “Oh, you mean like I needed his money? To live on?”

“Did you?”

“If I did, why the hell would I kill the guy?”

Stone was poker-faced. “I’m not saying you did. I’m searching for a motive.”

“He wasn’t going to be the only investor.” Burman looked beyond the park to the high rises of downtown LA. “Hmm. Don’t know if I should say this, Detective.”

“Your business partner and friend was murdered. Any information could be helpful.”

“Lisa has been seen with a few men here and there. She’s got this gardening thing, for whatever reason.”

“Which seems like a serious pursuit.”

“Yeah, she’s got a green thumb and there’s also her friend, Selena, uh, Selena Thompson I think her name is, who’s always hanging around. She’s a strange one.”

“Do you know her?”

“A little. She’s divorced and got a ton of money from her husband. He made shows that rocked. Different than me. I’m much more just a cash on hand, kind of guy. I mean, I make enough to have money in the bank but Selena and her husband.” He waved a hand in the air. “That’s a different story.”

“Do you know if Paul talked to Lisa that night?”

“I don’t know. He had his phone out and wandered off. Maybe he was reading a text or sending one. I’m not his nanny. I don’t know. I’d wait around. Morgan checked her lipstick and scrolled her phone. Then Paul came back and seemed preoccupied. His head just hasn’t been in the game recently.” Burman rolled his eyes. “Relationships. So damned confusing. I’m almost glad I don’t have one.”

“Sounded like something disturbed him.”

“Like I said, he was thinking. Mulling things over. Morgan went to the restroom at one point and Paul was like daydreaming. He wasn’t all there. Said he had called on a ranch for sale outside of Santa Fe. Then he said something about Lisa liking art as much as she did roses.”

“Santa Fe, New Mexico?”

“That’s the place. Lots of artsy fartsy types living in red dirt and scrub brush.” Burman looked thoughtful as he gazed across the reservoir to downtown LA. “I think he wanted to get out of here and have a change.”

Stone wondered. Who didn’t want him to go?

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